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Maine Revised Statutes Title 38. Waters and Navigation § 1667. Dental procedures

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. Prevention plan. By July 15, 2002, the department shall work with dentists and other interested parties to develop a pollution prevention plan for mercury from dental procedures that provides for reasonable measures to reduce mercury pollution from dental procedures and related sources. The plan must include options and strategies for implementing source reduction.

2. Dental office defined. For purposes of this section, “dental office” means any dental clinic, dental office or dental practice, but does not include the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

3. Amalgam separator system required. No later than December 31, 2004, a dental office that, in the course of treating its patients, adds, removes or modifies dental amalgam must install an amalgam separator system in the wastewater line in accordance with the following:

A. Wastewater containing dental amalgam particles must pass through the amalgam separator system prior to discharge to either a publicly owned treatment works or a private septic or waste disposal system, and waste containing dental amalgam must be collected from the amalgam separator system and disposed of in a manner satisfactory to the department;

B. Once the amalgam separator system has been installed, the dental office must notify the department in writing:

(1) Of the type of system installed;

(2) That the system is certified as meeting the standards required in accordance with section 1661, subsection 1-A;

(3) Of the date upon which the system became operational; and

(4) Of the method of disposing of the material after removal from the separator system.

If the amalgam separator system is connected to a publicly owned treatment works, the dental office shall provide the same notification to the director or chief engineer of that facility;

C. Installation, operation and maintenance of an approved amalgam separator system by a dentist in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations must fulfill the requirements of this section. A dentist must demonstrate proper operation and maintenance by maintaining, for a period of 3 years, all shipping records for replacement filters sent to licensed recyclers and written documentation that demonstrates that the system has been properly inspected and maintained; and

D. The department, after receiving proper notification of the installation of the amalgam separator system and after being satisfied that it meets the requirements of this section, must provide the dentist or the dental practice with written confirmation of receipt of evidence of compliance with this section in a format suitable for display by the dental office.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maine Revised Statutes Title 38. Waters and Navigation § 1667. Dental procedures - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/me/title-38-waters-and-navigation/me-rev-st-tit-38-sect-1667/

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